Page 45 of The Heroic Mr Darcy's Bad Manners
Of course, the cousins whom Miss Bingley had told her had suggested the wager that prompted Mr Darcy to dance with her at the masquerade! If only she had remembered that titbit when she had met the viscount at Lady Cowper’s ball…
“I wonder why you chose to introduce him to me if his family is so distasteful?”
“I would not have done so if Henry had not joined Mr Brummell in the card room, but I happen to disagree that children should atone for the sins of their parents. Besides, Miss Eudora Darcy speaks very highly of him, and his brother in particular. If Colonel Fitzwilliam had been in attendance, I would have chosen him, but as he was not, the viscount had to do.”
“Are the Matlocks so very bad, then?”
“Oh yes. I would advise you to avoid them as best you can.”
Her grandmother did not explain, and Elizabeth dared not ask because the lady’s eyes were glittering dangerously. Instead, she expounded upon the play and how amusing it was. Henry joined them, carrying wine to quench their thirst, and soon the interval was over. Mr Bingley and his party never returned, and Elizabeth took pains to avoid glancing at Mr Darcy. She succeeded most of the time.
Chapter 15 To Consider Merits, Demerits, and Judge Accordingly
The next morning.
“Perhaps we should invite your family to town for Christmas?” Grandmother Bennet mused during breakfast.
“Mr and Mrs Gardiner have spent every Christmas at Longbourn since they married. I fear the children would be terribly disappointed if they could not go this year,” Elizabeth informed her cautiously. It was not that she was opposed to the idea, it was just that she had become accustomed to celebrating the festive season with the Gardiner family.
“I am not so high in the instep that I cannot invite your mother’s family to join us. I have accepted your mother, and when one can tolerate that lady’s fluttering nerves and fancies, one can very well manage the genteel and proper Madeleine and Edward Gardiner.”
Her grandmother sounded miffed, and Elizabeth hastened to mollify her. “Of course. Yet, I could not suppose before you extended the invitation. It is my father about whom I am most concerned. You know he hates town…”
“Of course, he has not been since… Well. Never mind. It is best to leave old grievances behind and only think of the past as it gives you pleasure. Your father will have to rally his courage and overcome what has possessed him to avoid London’s society so judiciously. He has no choice in the matter as it is his duty to take his place in the House of Lords. It can no longer be delayed as he is now the Earl of Glentworth and you,a leanbh, are Lady Elizabeth.”
“I am,” Elizabeth acknowledged. “And Lady Elizabeth is very much anticipating a jolly Christmas with all my dear family. Thank you,móraí.”
She rose and hugged her grandmother. “Shall I write the letters?”
“Yes, if you would be so kind, I shall be very grateful. These old hands are prone to cramping when I write several letters at once.” Her grandmother reached for the morning gazette and leafed past the war news to the gossip columns.
“Think nothing of it,” Elizabeth replied graciously.
“Heaven forfend!” Grandmother suddenly cried with her nose in the newspaper. “Well, I never…”
“What is the matter?” Elizabeth asked, concerned.
“You are mentioned in the gossip column. Let me read it to you.At Lady C’s ball the Earl of G’s daughter was introduced to superior society. Lady E was quite the rage and in demand as a desirable partner. She danced with Mr B, Viscount C, and the Lord W, to mention a few, and they all seemed delighted by the petite Grecian goddess with dark curly hair and bright green eyes. Could she be this coming Season’s incomparable? This author waits in delightful suspense.”
Elizabeth was stunned speechless for a mere moment before her faculties returned and she laughed outright. “Imagine what they will write when Jane is introduced. I predict the accolades will be even greater. She is the indisputable angel.”
“Do not disparage yourself, Elizabeth, it is not becoming,” her grandmother retorted. “Jane is beautiful, but so are you in your own right.”
They were interrupted by the butler, who chose that moment to enter with a stack of letters on a silver salver. Elizabeth accepted the tray and passed the invitations to her grandmother, discovering two envelopes beneath them addressed to herself.
“Finally, a letter from Jane. Or rather two.” She smiled at her grandmother. “I was worried I had not heard from her, but now I understand perfectly. See!” She showed the first letter to Grandmother Bennet. “She has written the direction remarkably ill. It is not strange it was missent elsewhere. Do you mind if I read Jane’s letters before I write the Christmas invitations?”
“Indeed, read your letters,” her grandmother allowed. “I admit I am curious as to what she has to say about Mr Bingley.”
“The first was sent on the day I left for town. How strange…” Elizabeth mused. “Jane writes that Mr Darcy, Mr and Mrs Hurst, and Miss Bingley came to bid the family farewell as they had decided on a whim to join Mr Bingley in town. Miss Bingley then implied that there was a connection between Mr Bingley and Miss Darcy. Mr Darcy was unaware and opposed it vehemently, but that is not what concerned Jane. Miss Bingley was unpleasant and patronising for most of the visit, but when she realised that Father had become the Earl of Glentworth, she completely reversed her sentiments and dearly wished to continue the acquaintance. Jane is remarkably sceptical towards her overtures, and I shall give her leave to doubt Miss Bingley’s sincerity. She is a great deal too apt to believe people in general, you know. I heartily commend her new-found wariness, especially when it concerns Miss Bingley. I dare say she is a parvenu who thinks of nothing but clawing herself to the highest possible standing in society.”
“That is ungenerous,Eilís.”
“Indeed, but it is also true,” Elizabeth replied with a smile, and her grandmother could not conceal the tugging at the corner of her mouth that quite ruined her admonishment.
The behaviour of Miss Bingley did not reflect on the lady’s brother, who had not been present and was therefore probably both ignorant and innocent of his sister’s machinations. He had not been apprised about their elevation in rank when he had courted Jane and therefore must be acquitted from having a mercenary motive.
It was suspicious that the entire Netherfield party had left after the ball when it was only Mr Bingley who had business in town. It might even explain why Mr Bingley had not returned to Meryton. She would not put it past his sisters or his friend to join together in nefarious scheming for their own inexplicable purpose.
